Is Cool Hair Color Contagious?

Rarely do any of Allure's beauty editors look the same from day to day: With bright lipstick one day and bold liner the next, regular hairstyle changes, and the occasional lash extensions or spray tan, we're all basically immune to the fact that we're constantly trying out new looks (it is our jobs, after all). So when one of my coworker's beauty looks makes me do a double-take, you know it's got to be good. Last week, editorial assistant Sophia Panych debuted an extreme take on ombre highlights—dark roots that make a drastic switch to a sunny blonde from her ears down.

After a handful of compliments and some buzz around the beauty department regarding Panych's new hue (check it out, above), I was itching to change my color. Little did I know, another member of our team had already called her colorist and made an appointment. Her inspiration? Yep: Panych. "I brought a picture of Sophie to my colorist as the example of what I wanted my hair to look like," says assistant editor Kayleigh Donahue. Although Donahue's color is red and couldn't be taken to Panych's level in one salon visit, she's now on her way to cool two-tone hair. My appointment is booked, too, and though I probably won't go as extreme as trendsetter Panych, I want the ends of my hair a few shades lighter than my chocolate roots. So how many other staffers will follow suit? We'll have to wait and see, but it's safe to say Panych's color set off a domino effect in the office and got me wondering, "Is good hair color contagious?"